Chapter 194: Variety Shows Are Easy (3)
Chapter 194: Variety Shows Are Easy (3)
Every light in the inn was extinguished simultaneously.
For the record, the inn Seo-yeon had arrived at wasn't actually a functioning inn. To be precise, it had been an inn in the past, but after going out of business, it was repurposed as a filming set.
Of course, there were no issues with lodging or meals, and the facilities remained intact. It was just that, after being converted into a set, it had been modified to allow for various special effects.
"Alright, all lights are out."
The actors mobilized for this event nodded as they watched the Korean actors looking around in the darkness. Most of them appeared flustered through the lens of the night-vision cameras.
Notably, two of them already seemed to have a strong inkling of what was happening. One was naturally quick-witted, and the other was the manager who had already been briefed.
But that was fine. The target of their hidden camera prank was Seo-yeon, who was currently staring blankly into the darkness.
"Her face doesn't look as scared as I expected, does it?"
"Ehh~ that’s no good~."
From the perspective of the actors who had worked hard on their makeup, it felt a bit like a letdown. It happened sometimes—especially in horror pranks—where people would act tough. Even if that was their natural personality and they weren't actually scared, they usually had to play along to some extent to ensure there was enough footage for the broadcast.
The problem was that since this was a hidden camera prank, if she didn't get scared immediately, it would be obvious that any later reaction was just acting.
"Let's focus on triggering the mechanical traps first and herd them toward the location," Producer Nanjo said in a low voice while listening to the actors' conversation.
They were currently in the floor above Seo-yeon, in a hollow space created during the set's renovation.
"If she isn't scared, we'll just have to make her scared."
As he spoke, Producer Nanjo watched Seo-yeon on the monitor. She had begun to lead the others through the darkness, heading down the now-blackened hallway to turn on the lights that had gone out.
*
I’m not scared.
Seo-yeon thought to herself as she walked down the hallway. As she muttered this internally, she suddenly remembered a horror game she had played before.
Back then, she thought she had been terrified only because the character she controlled was weak. She had felt that if she could actually enter the game herself, she would have ground up any creature, chainsaw or not, into dust.
That bravado-filled thought still lingered. Well, she had been serious at the time, but... now, for some reason, she began to wonder if it really had been nothing but a bluff.
Doubt began to slowly creep into her heart.
Step.
"Se-Seo-yeon? Why did you stop so suddenly?"
Manager Park Eun-ha was terrified by Seo-yeon’s abrupt halt.
Ugh, I really can't handle this atmosphere.
Even though she had been told about the prank beforehand, Park Eun-ha was paralyzed with fear. She couldn't watch horror movies and had never played a horror game. The most she had ever engaged with that kind of content was an escape room she went to with friends. It was a place in Gangnam famous for its horror theme, and she had nearly fainted after trying it once.
And of all things, that one was a Japanese-style horror concept too.
It felt exactly like this. Like something was about to drop from the ceiling, just like—
Clatter!!
"Kyaaaaah!!!!"
Park Eun-ha let out a piercing scream. Something round had suddenly dropped from a hatch in the ceiling.
Thwack!!
In that instant, Seo-yeon reached out instinctively. It was a purely reflexive movement.
And Seo-yeon’s hand accurately pierced right through the round object.
"E-eh!?"
Narumi Sora let out a very Japanese-sounding exclamation for the first time in a long while. Seo-yeon hadn't used a fist; with her hand open, she had pierced the mannequin head with her fingertips.
It wasn't even a punch. What do they call that, a spear hand? She pierced it with her fingertips??
How was that even possible?
The fact that she had done that was scarier than a mannequin head resembling a human falling from the air. It wasn't a parry or a strike; how do you pierce something like that with your bare hand?
"..."
Seo-yeon stared at the object impaled up to her wrist. It was dark, but Seo-yeon’s shimmering red eyes weren't particularly hindered by the lack of light. Thus, even in the darkness, the intricately crafted mannequin head was clearly visible.
In truth, the thought that it was a mannequin didn't even register with Seo-yeon. The red liquid filled inside was dripping down, and the sensation against her hand made it hard to think straight.
Human perception relies surprisingly heavily on sight. Even though she knew it was a mannequin head, its form was so realistic that it evoked an indescribable feeling.
"Se-Seo-yeon?"
Sora asked in place of the trembling Park Eun-ha. Seo-yeon’s reaction seemed strange.
"P-p-p-please take it off."
Huh?
Sora could hear Seo-yeon’s voice shaking. Only then did Sora step closer and realize that what was stuck on Seo-yeon’s hand was a mannequin head made to look like a human.
Ugh, that looks gruesome.
Because it had been pierced through the mouth, the eyeballs looked like they were bulging out. Of course, it didn't look exactly like a real human head—it was just a well-made mannequin. But in the pitch-black surroundings, the vague resemblance created a profound sense of the uncanny valley.
"It's... it's off."
"..."
Despite Sora’s words, Seo-yeon couldn't bring herself to look at her own hand. Her eyes were squeezed shut; she was clearly terrified.
So Seo-yeon has things she's afraid of too?
Sora felt a strange sensation seeing Seo-yeon like this. She had thought the girl was like an iron woman, but apparently not.
"C-can you two go ahead and turn on the lights? I'll follow in just a moment."
"What?"
Why was she saying a line straight out of a horror movie character who's about to get picked off?
"O-okay, we'll do that."
Normally, Sora would have waited, regardless of the reason. But they were currently filming a broadcast. It would be better to leave Seo-yeon alone here; since she was the primary target anyway, it would make for better footage.
"We'll go turn on the hallway lights!"
The switch for the hallway lights was located quite a distance away—you had to walk straight, turn right, and then walk for a good while longer. It was a significant distance, as this was no small inn.
What do I do?
After sending Sora away, Seo-yeon stood still for a moment.
M-my legs won't move?
This couldn't be happening. It was impossible.
Seo-yeon couldn't wrap her head around the situation. To be honest, she still hadn't processed that this was a hidden camera prank or a filming set. For one, Seo-yeon had never really watched shows like hidden camera pranks, and her generation was somewhat removed from that style of entertainment. Furthermore, the idea that she would be pranked while abroad hadn't even crossed her mind.
...But the biggest reason was that her thoughts had short-circuited the moment she pierced that head.
I-I've definitely never felt fear before.
Except when playing games.
Could it be that she was actually vulnerable to this kind of terror? She hadn't been scared at all when she played the ghost back at school.
Seo-yeon pondered. When she experienced various emotions, there were some she felt more intensely than others. Usually, it was joy rather than negative feelings, or the sense of accomplishment from being praised. Those were the emotions that had the greatest impact on her.
But she didn't think fear was one of them. Truly, she had never felt anything like this before.
B-but then why am I so scared?
Her legs felt weak. They wouldn't move forward. As the creeping dread began to numb her senses to her surroundings—
Thump.
Along with a dull sound, she felt a presence behind her.
*
"Now! Do it now!!"
Seo-yeon was suddenly alone. Seeing this, the actors dressed as ghosts were filled with motivation and headed to their positions.
The plan was to lure her into the hallway, then use other devices to separate her from the rest of the group. But for her to be left alone like this—it couldn't be more perfect!
Is she weak against horror? She's completely frozen!
An actress known as an expert in playing ghosts for various haunted houses and theme parks smiled faintly as she stepped out first.
Trigger the devices.
In the hallway, a series of thump, thump, thump sounds began, accompanied by slight vibrations.
The atmosphere is perfect.
The actress emerged from a fake wall via a secret passage built into the building. To anyone else, it would look as if she had suddenly materialized in the middle of the hallway. She stood exactly three meters away from Seo-yeon.
"He... hehehehe."
She let out a dismal laugh. A laugh filled with madness and the resentment of a vengeful spirit. It was a sound that had terrified countless visitors in horror-themed attractions.
At that sound, Seo-yeon’s head slowly, creakingly turned.
Yes, that's the reaction...
The actress, smiling at the satisfying response, suddenly froze.
In the darkness, two glowing crimson eyes were staring directly at her.
Eh? Why are her eyes glowing red?
Did she put lightbulbs in her eyes?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Seo-yeon’s legs gave out, and she collapsed on the spot.
Huh?
Setting the eyes aside, the actress was momentarily flustered by Seo-yeon’s collapse. Why did she sit down? Did her legs give way? If so, how was she supposed to lure her to the next location?
No, wait. Maybe something is actually wrong with her.
Just as she thought this and started to approach Seo-yeon, the girl flinched and began to crawl backward away from the ghost actress using only her arms.
The ghost actress quickened her pace toward her, but—
"Huh?"
Forgetting she was supposed to be a ghost, the actress let out an involuntary exclamation.
Seo-yeon, whose legs had failed her, was scuttling down the hallway using only her arms—and she was fast.
No, wait a minute.
Wait for me. I said wait!
As the actress sped up, Seo-yeon’s crawling speed increased even more. No, she was incredibly fast. How could anyone crawl that quickly with just their arms?
Wait, if she goes that way...
In that moment, a scream of genuine terror began to echo through the inn.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
*
"Let's stay here for a bit and then head back to the room."
"W-what about Seo-yeon?"
"The... the filming crew will probably do something, right?"
Sora, thinking they had put enough distance between themselves and Seo-yeon, stopped as soon as she turned the right corner. She wasn't supposed to turn on the lights anyway, and she didn't want to move any further in this dismal atmosphere. If they stayed here, the crew would surely do something to Seo-yeon.
She let out a sigh of relief.
"?"
As she looked up, she saw a monster that had appeared behind Park Eun-ha. To be precise, it was an actor dressed as a monster.
It wore a grotesquely rotting mask, like a zombie, and held a hand axe in one hand. Its massive frame added to the overwhelming pressure it exerted. It was an appearance that sent shivers down the spine just by looking at it.
"Hiiiieee!"
Park Eun-ha, realizing its presence late, was also terrified. Watching the monster slowly walk toward them, she grabbed Sora’s sleeve and shook it.
"W-weren't we supposed to be safe? S-swing those nunchucks you used back then!!"
"I-I can't! I couldn't bring them in the first place!"
They weren't allowed on the plane. They were strictly classified as weapons.
Amused by their reaction, the monster with the hand axe slowly approached. Then, it came to a dead stop. Its gaze fixed on something, as if it had seen something impossible.
"Huh?"
Sora and Park Eun-ha, who had been paralyzed with fear, reacted with confusion to the monster's strange behavior. Why did it stop?
What was even stranger was what happened next. Instead of just standing there, the monster began to stumble backward.
What was going on? Why was it acting like that? It was as if there was something behind them...
With that thought, Sora and Park Eun-ha instinctively turned around.
And they saw it. Something crawling toward them at an incredible speed.
".........!!!"
For the first time in her life, Sora realized what it felt like to have the breath knocked out of her by pure terror. Suddenly, a certain RPG Maker game that had been popular for a while came to mind.
Was it called The Witch's House? In that game, there was a legless witch who chased the protagonist, scuttling along with just her arms.
The scene before them was exactly like that.
Long, pitch-black hair, and through the strands, two glowing red eyes. And a woman crawling with her arms at a speed that seemed impossible for a human. Her lower body wasn't clearly visible—it was dark, after all.
The important thing was that a woman was crawling down the hallway at a terrifying speed. Furthermore, there was something ghost-like chasing after her.
"R-r-r-r-run!!"
The first one to flee at Sora’s command was the actor playing the monster. He even dropped the hand axe he was holding as he began to scramble away. Sora and Park Eun-ha followed suit, running after the monster. They figured an actor working here would know the layout of the building best.
Thump!!
Wondering what the sound was, Sora looked back as she ran.
The crawling woman had picked up the hand axe the monster had dropped and was now crawling with it in her hand.
Thump, thump, she slammed it into the floor as she moved.
Why was she slamming it into the floor? It was terrifying. Seriously, what was wrong with her?
What's more, her speed had increased.
"KRAAAAAAH!! ...GYAAAAAAH!!!"
The actors who had been waiting in various spots to jump out at Seo-yeon had their plans ruined. They had let out loud roars to scare Sora and Eun-ha as they ran past, only to see what was chasing them and immediately join their colleagues in flight.
"There's a fake wall over here! The fake wall!!"
The ghosts forgot their roles and began frantically pounding on the walls to find the hidden door.
"H-hurry, close it! Close it!!"
If they escaped through the passage behind the fake wall, she wouldn't be able to follow. The three ghosts they met while fleeing spoke urgently.
They tried to slam the fake wall shut, but—
Clatter, clatter!
"I-it won't close!!" Sora screamed.
Then, looking down, she saw a hatchet wedged in the gap of the fake wall.
When did that get there?
Wait, hold on.
Everyone’s gaze shifted downward.
Thud.
A pale white hand appeared through the gap and gripped the edge of the wall. Black hair spilled through the opening.
As the hatchet twisted, the gap in the fake wall widened slightly, and a pair of red eyes peered up at them from the floor.
The fake wall, which everyone was pushing with all their might to keep shut, was being forced open.
The moment she saw that—
Oh, no.
Sora fainted.